Bag



- Feb. 23, 1937. w. EJ-IIGGINBOTTOM BAG Original Filed June 9, 1 953 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

M g g ATTORNEY.

Feb. 23, 1937. w, E. HIGGINBOTTOM 2,071,745

BAG

Original Filed June 9, 1933 T Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 23, 1937, w HIGGINBOTTOM 2,071,745

BAG

Original Filed June 9, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVHV TOR.

J 1 Mim ATTORNEY.

Feb. 23, 1937. w. E. HIGGINBOTTOMI BAG 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed June 9, 1933 IN VEN TOR.

= ATTORNEY.

w; E. HIGGINBOTTOM BAG Original Filed June 9, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYI.

1937. w. E. HIGGINBOTTOM 2,071,745

BAG

Original Filed June 9, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Feb. 23, 1937. I w. E. HIGGINBOTTOM Q 2,071,745

BAG

Original Fild June 9, 1933 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 2 16) 6 INVE NTOR.

1 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 23, 1937 PATENT OFFICE BAG William E. Hlgginbottom, Montgomery County, min 0. Betner Company,

notation of Delaware Ol'lglna Haveriord Township,

Pa., assignor to BenJa- Devon, Pa., a cor- 1 application June 9, 1933, Serial No.

Divided and this application October 7, 1933, Serial No. 692,631

My invention relates to bags, particularly of the type using fastening clips, or equivalent fastening means.

In accordance with my invention, the bags are provided with a plurality of scores or creases parallel to the top of the bag to facilitate folding or rolling down of the collapsed top and with a score or crease circumscribing the bag at the level of the bag contents to afford a firm package with flat or squared top.

More particularly, the ends of the bag are provided with scores or creases defining triangular panels which are folded into the plane of the squared top of the closed bag.

My invention also resides in the features of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 675,046, filed June 9, 1933, now U. S. Patent No. 2,023,682.

For an understanding of my invention and for illustration thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which. in perspective:

Fig. 1 illustrates the open mouth of a bag.

Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. 1 with addition of scoring or creasing.

Figs. 3 to 5 illustrate successive folding steps.

Fig. 6 illustrates the application of a flexible fastening strip to the folded bag "top.

Fig. 7 illustrates application of a label.

Fig. 8 illustrates the completed bag.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the progressive steps of closing bags, at successive stations.

Figs. 9a and 9b are referred to in explanation of the steps of Figs. 9 and 10-.

Fig. 11' illustrates conveying mechanism for transporting the completed bags.

Figs. 12 to 19 illustrate another creased bag and the successive folding steps for closingit.

Fig. 20 illustrates an alternative mode of applying a fastener strip or clip.

Figs. 21 to 28 illustrate another method of using a creased bag to obtain a firm package.

Fig. 29 illustrates formation of a creased bag.

Referring to Fig. 1, for convenience of explanation the front face of the bag B is designated by the reference character F, the rear face by the reference character R, the left'and right ends by the reference characters Ea and E, respectively. The folds or creases 0, Co which results from the bag having been folded flat, divide the end faces into two vertical panelsof equal width.

Referring to Fig. 2 the front face F is divided by the scores or creases I, 2 and 8, into two upper panels P, and PI of substantially equal width, and a third lower panel P2. whose height or width corresponds substantially to half the width of the bag, i. e., half the distance between the front and rear faces of the bag when extended. The two upper scores, i and 2, as indicated by the pair of parallel lines, are formed by indenting from the front face inwardly, whereas, the third or bottom score 3, as indicated by a single line, is formed to project slightly from the front panel F. The rear panel R is divided into the upper panel P3, corresponding substantially to panel P of the front face, and panel P4 whose height or width corresponds substantially to the combined width of the panels PI and P2 of the front face F. The scores or creases I and 5 which form these two panels both extend outwardly from the rear surface of face R. The panel P5 of end face E is defined by the vertical crease C, and the outwardly projecting scoring}, and corresponding panel Pic, of the end face Ea is formed by the scoring Ca, and the crease 6a. Similarly, the

panels P6 and Pia, of the two end panels, are formed by the scoring 1, la which, unlike scoring 6, 6a, forms a depression as viewed from the outside-of the bag. These panels P5, PSa, P6 and PM are all of width corresponding substantially to the panels P and P3. In fact, the top of the bag is circumscribed by the scoring l, 6, I, 4, la, and 6a. The panels P1 and PM, held below t e panels P5 and Pia, are formed by the addition of the scoring 8, 8a, which projects outwardly. Additional creases or lines may be used or some omitted in keeping with the requirements for different thicknesses, plies and properties of the bag material. There are no corresponding rectangular panels below the panels P6 and Pia: or otherwise expressed, the scoring 2, 8-, 8a extends only half way around the bag. The scoring 8, on end face E and corresponding scoring on end Ea, not shown, is, in fact, a continuation of scoring 3 and 5, so that what ultimately is to be the top of the closed bag is circumscribed by outwardly extending creasing or scoring. The depressed scoring or creasing II and [2 forms a triangular panel Plll having the scoring 9 as its base, and having its apex at the junction between scoring 8 and crease C, viz, the altitude of the triangle P-lfl, as measured on line C, is substantially equal to one-half the width of bag face E. There is a corresponding and similar triangular panel at end Ea of the bag.

To close the bag, the ends E, Ea are tucked in and the front F and rear R. of the bag brought together above the scoring 2. Panels P5 and P6 come together between panels P and P! at one end of the bag and similarly panels P542 and P611 are folded together between P and?! at the other end of the bag. Panels PI and PM swing into engagement with the inside face of panel Pl. As indicated, the score line I of face F and 6 score line 4 of rear "face R nest with score hues '6 and I, and score lines I and 8a nest with score line 2. Furthermore, the outwardly extending score line 9, and inwardly directed scoring I I, I2 facilitates the turning in of triangular panels PHI, Pllia and allows panels P8, P9 to swing toward engagement with panels P4 and P2, respectively.

The closed top of the bag formed by panels P, P3 and end panels P5, P6, Pia and Plia between them, is bent forwardly to the position of Fig. 4,

bringing panels P and PI into face-to-face engagement. This folding or bending is greatly facilitated by the scoring I, 6, I, I, la and in, all of which is now in such relation as to facilitate folding of the many thicknesses of paper in this direction. In all cases the line of foldingis clearly or sharply defined by scoring or creasing, whereas, in the absence of such provision, the folding would occur haphazardly and cause undesirable bunching of the paper in some regions. Score lines 2, 9, 9a, ll, Ila, l2 and Hi: are particularly of assistance in collapsing or folding the walls F. R. E. and Ed to the position of Fig. 3. Especially when the folding is eflected mechanically, the need for the score marks is greater the nearer the level of the bag contents is to the top of the bag The rolling down of the top is continued by bringing the panel Pl into face-to-i'ace engagement with panel P2, so that the various panels take the position shown in Fig. 5. For holding the bag closed, there is applied a flexible fastening strip S, having ends Se extending beyond the ends of the bag. This strip may be of a covered metal strip, per se, old or may preferably be of the type wn in my application Serial No. 641,718, flied November 8, 1932, now U. S. Patent No. 1,979,157, in which the flexible element is thin wire bent to form looped ends which are retained in position by the. paper covering.

The ends of the fastening device S are turned inwardly, as shown in Fig. 7,.to clamp the folded panels together. The bag can be opened at any time by straightening the ends and unrolling the bag top. If less than all the contents are used, the bag top may be l e-closed by again rolling it down and applying the fastening, the aforesaid creasing or folding facilitating closing the completed bag assumes the appearance shown in Fig. 8. The label, it should be noted, attaches 65 the fastening strip S to the panel Pl. If the label is not used, strip 8 should be adhesively To open the bag, the label or torn, as by severing it along the dotted line 2:, whereupon, after 7 straightening of the fastening strip, the bag may be opened, and thereafter opened and closed as many times as desired. Bending of the strip 8, in each case, holds the folded panels of the bag in bag-closing position.

Score marks 8, 5, 9 and la aid in obtaining neat and even folding, and are particularly useful in squaring-oil the bag top, as shown in The aforesaid steps ,of creasing-and folding the Fig. 8.

bag may be effected manually, or preferably they may be performed automatically, and as successive steps of an automatic bag-closing operation. For example, referring to Fig. 9. the bags or equivalent by a suitable transfer device, for

example, a plunger operating in timed relation to the intermittent movement of the conveyor. The guide bar." limits the forward position of the bag. The fllledbag is moved by the conveyor to station #1. at which the pocket is vibrated to shake down the contents of the bag so that the upper level falls, as indicated by the decreased height of the dotted line H. The shaking may be eiiected by any suitable mechanism, for example, by the arrangement generically illustrated in Fig. 9a., in which the cam i8 vibrates the arm l9 connected to the bottom plate 20 of the pocket is. The slots 2| in the bracket 22 of the pocket permits this" vertical movement.

Each bag, in turn, is. moved to station #2 where further settling is eifected by vibration of the pocket. Any suitable mechanism may be used, for example, such as shown in Fig. 9a. The decreased dotted line ll: At the third station, the plunger 23 is moved downwardly through the open mouth of the bag to a predetermined position. The pocket with the ,fllled bag is moved upwardly, as, forexample, by mechanism generally of the type shown in Fig. 9b, until the bottom of the plunger is engaged by the bag contents. The pocket is held in this elevated position. as by the pawl 24, engaging teeth of the bar 25. As the particular mechanism is not part of the present invention, constructional details are omitted for clarity.v While the'bag is in this positon, four dies, one for each face of the bag, move toward the block 23 to score the bag, generally, and preferably, as previously described in connection with Fig. 2. Briefly, the die 26 has the projections 21 and 28 for forming the depressed scoring i and 2 of the front of the bag, and the groove 29 which cooperates with a projection on the opposite face of the block 23, to form the projecting scoring 3. The die 30 is provided with grooves ll, 22,

which cooperate with projections on the block 23 to form the scoring 4 and 5. Similarly, dies 38, only one of which is shown for clarity, are provided with suitable grooves and projections to form the scoring for the end faces E and Ea of the bag.

It should be noted that the location of the scoring determining the ultimate top of the bag, i. e., the scoring 3, 8 and i, is determined by the located on the bag, so that, as between diiferent bags. there may be more or less difference in height, from time to time, because of, for example, change in density of the materialdue to atmospheric changes, differences in processing. such as grinding, roasting, weighting, etc.

height of the level is shown by level of the bag contents and is not arbitrarily gether to After the dies and block 23 are withdrawn, the pocket and bag, still in elevated position, move to station #4, at which the blocks 34, having the parallel faces 35, and inclined faces 36 move tobring the various panels of the bag in the position shown in Fig. 3. The tucking tools 31 fold in the panels P5, P6, Pia and P80 and, in general, move all of the panels P5 to PIII, and Pia to PIUa of ends E and Ea, generally to the position shown in Fig. 3. As the position of the scoring is determined by the bag contents, there may be more or less excess bag material, 1. e., the panels P and P3 may be wider than necessary. Therefore, before the folding, shown in Fig. 4, is effected, the excess material is cut from the top, this ring W of excess paper may be removed, at station #4, or, as indicated, may be cut from the bag upon arrival at station #5, Fig. 10, at which the bag is still in elevated position. It is preferred that after this trimming, the distance between the trimmed top and the score marks I (and 4) be slightly greater than the distance between score marks I and 2. This ensures that the top edges shall be clamped or wedged in the fold along score mark 2 which is of material aid in preventing the sifting out, from the completely closed bag, of finely ground or powdered materials as pulverized coffee, fiour, sugar, etc. When desired, adhesive or gum, preferably a so-called pressure-sensitive adhesive, may be disposed along or in the region of score mark 2 to increase the efiectiveness of the seal.

At station #5 the top of the bag is rolled down, performing the steps generally shown by Figs. 4 and 5, and at the next station, #6, the bag fastener, for example, paper covered metal strip cut from the roll 38 or removed from. a stack or magazine is applied and bent to holding position.

At station #7, a label L, removed from a stack 39 thereof, or cut from a roll, is adhesively applied, completing the bag. At station #8, the bag is pushed from the pocket I5, as by the plunger 40, onto belts 42 and 43 which carry it between conveyor belts 4| and 42, the spacing between which corresponds to the desired width of the completed bag. During the preceding operations the contents of the bag tend to settle rather com-v pactly and effect bulging of the bag. This condition is remedied and the bag walls and top brought to a substantially rectangular condition or squared-off by the belts 4|, 42. The scoring 3, 5, 9, and 9a form the top edges of the bag and facilitate the squaring-off. The packages formed by the filled bags are firm, tightly wrapped, and the ends are substantially squared, enhancing their shelf appearance and facilitating handling and shipping.

The belt 43 engages the top of the bag, and assists in holding the label during seasoning of the glue.

As previously stated, the height of each bag is actually determined by the volume of its contents so that each of the, bags as delivered by the belts is, in efiect, a firm package, whereas, if the top of the bag were arbitrarily determined by prescoring it, which scoring would have to be positioned to accommodate the maximum volume, some of the bags would have an appreciable empty space at their tops, which is undesirable both from the aspect of appearance, as well as packing.

Prescored bags may be used and firm packages obtained if they are all filled to the correct height, in which event, the scoring stage 3 and trimming stage 5 may be omitted. Preferably, the prescoring is eflected while the bag is flat or collapsed, as all score lines can be made by a single die. As evident from Figs. 12 and 15, the die elements forming score I. concurrently produce scores 4, 6, I, Go and 1a; score marks 8, 8a are produced by the same die element forming score line 2, etc. The creasing II' and I2 is formed at the same time as the score lines I I, I2, I la, Ila defining the triangular panels PIII, Plfla.

The bag illustrated in Figs. 12 to 19 has an additional fold in the rolled-down top which is provided by the creasing la, 40, GB, 1B, 60, 1C. As indicated by Figs. 16 to 19, the fastener strip S may be applied to panel Pa and is wound into the folded end as it is rolled down. As previously described, the panels defined by the scoring, are brought into overlying relation and the ends Se of the fastener strip turned in to clamp the ends of the fold, Fig. 19.

If desired, the closed end, instead of being fiattened against the bag top, as in Fig. 19, may remain erect, as in Fig. 18, and the end Se of strip S bent backwardly; or, as indicated in Fig. 20, the strip S may be applied to the erect rolled-down end after the rolling down has been completed to embrace all of the folds. In any of the modifications, a label may ,be applied to overlie the rolled-down top and fastener, as previously described.

A method of obtaining a firm packagev with prescored bags is illustrated .in Figs. 21 to 28. The bag shown in Fig. 21a. is open at both ends, i. e., it is in the form of a tube, as more clearly appears in the plan view of Fig. 21. The scoring may be effected while the bag is collapsed, as in Fig. 12, or it may be distended and .only the score lines actually used impressed on each face. as at station 3 of Fig. 9, or generally as appears in Fig. 29. The top of the bag is rolled down and a fastener applied. The collapsed bag is distended, as by plunger or-block 45, for reception of its contents. After removal of the block, the desired weight of material is passed through the open bottom of the bag in which it assumes a level determined by the existing conditions of humidity, temperature, processing, etc. The open bottom of the bag may be closed and permanently sealed in any desired manner, the folding being such that the contents are snugly held in the bag and, in fact, comprise the form for folding. Therefore, although the bags, before filling, may be identical, the filled bags may vary in height, for example, as much as two inches for pound bags of coffee, All bags will present a firm appearance because each is individually formed about or fitted to its contents.

A preferred method of closing the open bottom is shown by Figs. 23 to 27. Referring to Fig. 23, the material M, for example, coffee, has assumed a level Ila which, as above stated, may be different for different bags for the same weight of contents. One side of the bag is turned down against the top of the material, the overlap of the turned-down fiap H, therefore, varying in accordance with level I'Ia, i. e., the material itself is a form determining the line along which the flap H is bent.

Thereafter, the front, rear and opposite side walls are folded to the position shown by Fig. 24

and, preferably, adhesive is applied along the region X to seal the bottom of the bag by adhesively securing the overlapping bag material. This folding forms two triangular flaps J, J I extending at right angles from the front and rear of the bag which, as indicated by Figs. 25

are turned into overlying engagement with thebottomofthebagformedbyflapsHandH'. Flaps J and Ji maybe held in position by suitable application of adhesive and/or by applicaticn of a label Li. Fig. 27, which secures the HI. The completed bag shown in Fig. 28, is rectangular and firm, facilitating packing and aifording enhanced shelf appearanee 18 quent use by re-rolling the top of the bag and It is not necessary that the creasing or scoring be effected while the bag is collapsed. as in 20 I'ig. 12. The mouth of the bag may be held open as by plunger 23c, Fig. 29, preferably provided with grooves and/or projections which cooperate with projections and/or grooves of the dies 26a,-

lio, etc., when moved into engagement with the bag, to form the desired score lines. The. scoring or creasing is of advantage whether the bag closing operations beeffected manually or mechanically, especially the latter. The scoring dies can be incorporated-in a machine for making bags, or in a machine for fllling rality of creases forming depressions dividing one face into upper panels of substantially equal 40 width and a lower panel substantially equal in width to one-half the width of the bag and a plurality of creases projecting from the opposite face and dividing it into an upper panel substantially equal in width to one of said upper 46 panels and a lower panel substantially equal in width to the sum of the width of said other lower panel plm the width of one of said upper panels.

2. A bag having on each side thereof and adjacent its mouth a plurality of single creases 50 facilitating closure of the bag by the folding down of the open end of the bag, the creases on at least one pair of sides extending in the same direction and normal to said sides, a plurality of said single creases in the sides between said of sides nesting one within the other durclosure of the bag, all of said single creases being in the outermost line of each fold thereby to prevent irregularities in the plane of each fold due to the presence of said creases.

3. A bag having its top rolled down to bring opposite faces into substantially the same plane to form the closed top of the bag, a flexible fastcning strip releasably clamping the rolled-down top in bag-closing position, and adhesive means for attaching said strip to one of said faces and for holding said faces in said plane.

4. A bag having a rolled down portion folded substantially into the plane of its top when closed, and an elongated flexible fastening strip tion tigh in bag-closing position. 76 5. A beg having it rolled down portion folded Jl to each other and to bottom panels substantially into the plane of itstop when closed, an elongated flexible fastening strip clamped lengthwise oversaid folded portion and having its ends tucked thereunder, andan ad-fl hesive sheet sealing the closed top of the bag and ,6 I

retaining said clamping strip.

6. A bag having 0. rolled down portion folded substantially into the'plane of its .top when closed, an elongated flexible fastening strip disposed over the folded portion and having its 10 ends tucked thereunder. and an adhesive label superposed over said fastening strip securing the same to the top and sealing the bag, said label having a frangible section for breaking the seal to open the bag. 18

'7. A bag for a given weight of material the volume of which varies from time to time for said given weight, comprising a wall one end of which forms the mouth of the bag and the other end of which forms the bottom of the bag, a plurality 30 of creases adjacent said mouth facilitating closure of said mouth by the folding down of said wall along-said creases, releasable means for tightly holding said folds in bag-closing position. the length of said wall being determinedwith 25 reference to the maximum volume of said material for said given weight, said length for said maximum volume being suiilciently great to provide for the folding tightly against the material therein each side of the bag at the bottom there- 30 of, said folds overlapping to form a closure for the bottom of said bag, and adhesive means permanently securing said bottom folds together, the folding line of each of said bottom folds for volumes less than said maximum in each bag being 35 located adjacent and substantially in line with the level of said material thereby to equalize the volume of each bag with reference to the volume of material contained therein.

8. A bag for a given weight of material the. volume of which varies from time to time for said given weight. comprising a wall one'end-of which forms the mouth of the bag and the other end of which forms the bottom of the bag, a plurality of creases adjacent said mouth facilitat- 4g ing closure of said mouth by the folding down of said wall along said creases. releasable means for tightly holding said folds in bag closing position, the length of said wall being determined with reference to the maximum volume of said 5. material for said given weight, said length for said maximum volume being sufliciently great to provide for the folding tightly against the material therelneach side of the bag at the bottom thereof, said folds'overlapping to form a closure for u the bottom of said bag, and adhesive means permanently securing said bottom folds together, the folding line of each of said bottom folds for volumes less than said maximum in each bag being located adjacent and substantially in line with a the level of said material thereby to equalize the volume of each bag with reference to the,volume of material contained therein, said bottom folds for volumes less than said maximum overlapping to greater extent thereby to equalize the volume as of each bag with reference to the volume of material contained therein.

9. A bag having adjacent its mouth a plurality of creases forming depressor-s dividingone face into upper panels of substantially 10 equal width and a lower panel substantially equal in width to one-half the width of the bag and a plurality of creases projecting from the opposite face and dividing it into an upper panel substantially equal in width to one of said upper of a plurality of horizontal creases dividing opposite sides of the bag into a plurality of panels and also having a plurality of creases dividing the ends thereof into panels to facilitate closure of the bag by folding the ends between the sides and by folding down the panels at the open end of the bag, all of said creases of said sides and of said ends in bag closing position being disposed in the outermost line of each fold, and a plurality of said creases of said sides and of said ends nesting one within the other and extending in the same direction and normal to said sides, thereby to prevent irregularities in the plane of each fold due to the presence of said creases.

' WILLIAM E. HIGGINBO'I'I'OM.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent NO. 2,071,745.

February 23, 1937.

WILLIAM E. HIGGINBOTTOM.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 1,

first column. line 49, for "results" read result; and second column, line 19, after "P 5a" strike out the comma; page 4, second column, line 69 claim 9, for "depressors" read depressions; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of June, A. D. 1937.

(Seal) 7 Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents.

of a plurality of horizontal creases dividing opposite sides of the bag into a plurality of panels and also having a plurality of creases dividing the ends thereof into panels to facilitate closure of the bag by folding the ends between the sides and by folding down the panels at the open end of the bag, all of said creases of said sides and of said ends in bag closing position being disposed in the outermost line of each fold, and a plurality of said creases of said sides and of said ends nesting one within the other and extending in the same direction and normal to said sides, thereby to prevent irregularities in the plane of each fold due to the presence of said creases.

' WILLIAM E. HIGGINBO'I'I'OM.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent NO. 2,071,745.

February 23, 1937.

WILLIAM E. HIGGINBOTTOM.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 1,

first column. line 49, for "results" read result; and second column, line 19, after "P 5a" strike out the comma; page 4, second column, line 69 claim 9, for "depressors" read depressions; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of June, A. D. 1937.

(Seal) 7 Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

